Headlight dimmer



Jan. 6- 19 5- 1,521,847

C. O. WALKER HEADLIGHT DIMMER Filed Feb. 14, 1923 Patented Jan. 6, 1925 UNITED STATES CLEO ORVILLE WALKER, or COLUMBUS, orrio.

HEADLIGHT DIM'MER.

Application filed February 14, 1923. Serial No. 618,882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEO ORVILLE ALK- ER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headlight Dimmers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is directed to improvements in headlight dimmers especially adapted for use in connection with the headlights of motor vehicles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character constructed in such manner that the light rays from the lamps may be permitted to throw a light a considerable distance in advance of the car to effectively illuminate the roadway, or may be operated to dim the lights or reflect the light rays upon the approach of another vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this nature including a plurality of shutters which are so mounted that rattling thereof is positively eliminated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dimmer constructed in such manner that the operative parts thereof are entirely supported by the'reflector, and may be installed upon lamps already in use.-

lVith this and other objects in View, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts, and hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a headlight equipped with the device,

Figure 2 is a vertical central section through the same,

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of one of the shutter bearings,

Figure 4C is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 3. 7

Referring to the drawing 1 designates a lamp casing in which is located the usual parabolic reflector 2 having associated therewith the incandescent bulb 3 and lens 4.

The dimmer consists of a plurality of shutters 5, preferably three in number, and since these shutters are identical in con structi'on with the exception as to length, the description of one will suffice for all.

These shutters consist of frames and include bottom bars 6 and inwardly curved end bars 7, said bars being formed from channel metal for receiving the lower edge and side edges of the glass panel 8. The panel is covered preferably-green but it will be of course understood that other colors may be used if desired. 7

Since the end bars 7 are curved and the ends of the panels are correspondingly curved it will be obvious that upward movement of the panels in the frames will be prevented, whereby the panels will be held snugly in the frames. V

Suitably secured to the upper ends of the end bars 7 are cleats 9 having threaded openings 10 formed therein, the purpose of which will appear later.

Extending longitudinally of the panel 8 is a bar 11 which bears upon the upper edge of the panel, the ends of said bar being extended beyond the end bars 7, and have passed therethrough screws 12 which engage the openings 10 of the cleats and secure the bars to said cleats. The extended ends of the bars have riveted or otherwise secured thereto, and upon the opposite sides thereof, plates 13 formed from comparatively hard rubber, said plates being semi-circular having cross section so that the extended ends of the bars 11 are provided with substantially circular trunnions 10 which are adapted to rotatably engage the bearings 14 formed at diametric points in the sides of the reflector 2.

Secured to one end of each of the bars 11 are crank arms 15 and pivotally connecting said crank arms is an angle lever 16, which when moved rock the shutters to their open, partially open, or closed position, as desired.

Secured to the reflector at a point below the lever 16 is a bracket 17 and pivotally connected to said bracket is a bell crank lever 18 to one arm of which is pivotally connected the lower end of the link 19, the

upper end of which being pivotally connected with the lower end of the angle lever 16, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

I Pivotally connected to the other arm of the lever 18 is a forward end of a rod 20, which slides through the reflector and leads rearwardly to the drivers seat so that upon llu manipulating said rod the shutters may be rocked to adjust the same to suit different road conditions.

The uppermost crank arm 15 is connected with the reflector 2, by a coil spring 21 which serves to normally hold the shutters in their closed position, and further serves to return the same to their closed position. after being arranged in their open positions.

Suitably secured to the end bars 7 are rubber buffer strips 22 which are employed to prevent the'end bars from coming in direct contact with the-interior surface of the reflector, and consequently serve to deaden any sound incident to the engagement of the shutters with the reflector and at a time when the shutters are in their open positions. 'Further it will be observed that since the plates 13 are of rubber the shutters will be effectively supported and will not rattle when the car is in motion. Then the shutters are in their closed position it will be of course apparent that the same will cover substantially half of the lens 4-, and consequently the rays above the longitudinal axis of the reflector are dimmed, and cars so equipped can approach each other without being blinded by the light rays of the headlights of the respective cars. Since the shutters can be swung upwardly upon manipulating the rod 20 the light rays deflected by the upper portion of the reflector 2 can be projected upon the roadway with the usual intensity, and at times when cars are not approaching each other.

It will be further observed that the shutters are entirely supported by the reflector 2, and consequently can be installed on headlights already in use.

What is claimed is: V

1. The combination with a headlight and its reflector, of a plurality of shutters including frames, glass panels mounted in the frames, bars forming a part of the frames and having extended ends, said extended ends having plates secured thereto, said plates being formed from rubber, said plates in conjunction with the extended ends providing circular trunnions, bearings formed in the reflector for rotatably supporting said trunnions, and means for simultaneously oscillating said shutters.

2. The combination with a headlight and its reflector, of a plurality of shutters including frames, said frames consisting of horizontal bars and end bars, said bars be ing formed from channel metal, glass panels engaged in the channels of said bars, a top bar extending longitudinally of the panels and connected with the end bars, and means for pivotally supporting the frames with the reflector, said shutters being capable of being simultaneously oscillated.

3. The combination with a headlight and its reflector, of a plurality of shutters including frames, glass panels supported by the frames, top bars engaged with the frames and having extended ends, crank arms carried by certain of the extended ends, said extended ends being j ournaled in the reflector, a link pivotally connecting said crank arms, and means for actuating said link to oscillate the frames, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with a headlight and its reflector, of a plurality of shutters including frames, said frames consisting of horizontal bars and end bars, said bars being formed from channel metal, glass panels engaged in the channels of said bars, a top bar extending longitudinally of the panels and connected with the end bars, the ends of said bar being supported by the reflector.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLEO ORVILLE WALKER 

